"The adult's words are profound, and many incomprehensible points of humility are suddenly opened at this moment."

Through the dialogue with Wang Chenhao, Ruan Zhongshu not only has an understanding of the current political pattern in Northeast Asia, but also benefits a lot from himself. The admiration for Wang Chenhao is better than in the past, and he is more determined to follow Wang Chenhao's determination and goals.

"That's right! All the people I brought back are settled, right? ”

"It's all settled!"

In the past few days, Ruan Zhongshu has been in charge of accommodating the scientific and technical personnel that Wang Chenhao brought back from the United States, so he reported to Wang Chenhao on his work in the past few days.

Ruan Zhongshu first arranged a group of key personnel that Wang Chenhao particularly emphasized. The most important first person is Tesla, and his lab assistants. Because Wang Chenhao attaches great importance to Tesla, he sent a telegram back to Beiyang Technology to prepare a separate laboratory for Tesla when he was in the United States, including all the experimental equipment and related facilities required by Tesla, and Tesla's laboratory was set as an S-level key secret and protection object.

In addition to the fact that the various projects he has studied are extremely influential to the world, another main reason is that based on the requirements of military operations, Wang Chenhao asked Tesla to immediately start researching the upgrade of radio-related technologies, such as expanding the transmission distance and signal strength on the basis of the Marconi radio system. In addition, in the field of radio technology, Wang Chenhao has a special fondness for radio jamming technology, radio detection and other technologies in several military fields, and he knows that it is necessary for future wars, so he asked Tesla to carry out research. Because of its own important surname, this kind of radio technology is very important to keep secrets secret, and it must be strictly prevented from leaking, so Tesla's laboratory is listed as an S-level key protection object.

Holland and Lake, as well as their technical team, were arranged into Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry, and according to Wang Chenhao's request, Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry acquired the Dagu Dock of Beiyang Naval Division in Tianjin Tanah Lot Temple.

The dock is the third modern shipyard of the Qing Empire after the Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Bureau and the Shanghai Jiangnan Dock, and it is also the earliest shipbuilding yard and an important military base in northern China. In 1880, Li Hongzhang asked Emperor Guangxu to be approved to open the 'Beiyang Navy Division Dagu Dock' in Dagu, and the site was selected in Tanah Lot Temple (now Tianjin Shipyard), which was called 'Tanah Lot Dock' at that time, and it was renamed 'Dagu Dock' after the wholly-owned acquisition of Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry.

Dagu Dock also has a glorious history, in 1882, Dagu Dock began to build ships, the first submarine was built in the country, in 1891, it also imitated the advanced weapon at that time, the German one-pounder breech gun, the great long national prestige. However, in 1900, after the Eight-Nation Coalition occupied Dagu, the dock was occupied by Tsarist Russia for two years. Although the axe was recovered, most of the equipment had been dismantled and transported by the Russians, leaving only an empty shell.

When Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry acquired Dagu Dock, there were a total of 8 docks in Dagu Dock. Among them, the largest dock built in 1882 (No. 1 dock) is 97.6 meters long, 28 meters wide, 6 meters deep, wooden dock door, civil structure, can accommodate a ship of about 3,000 tons. In 1884, the second and third docks were added, which could build 2,500-ton ships. In 1885, docks No. 4 and No. 5 were added. In 1890, docks No. 6, 7 and 8 were built, all of which were 2,000-ton docks. At the same time, it was possible to assemble and repair eight ships, becoming the first repair base of the Beiyang Navy fleet. The warships of the Beiyang Naval Division of less than 3,000 tons were docked here for overhaul, and during the First Sino-Japanese Naval Battle, the Dagu Dock was repaired for the Beiyang Naval Division at night. However, the [***] of the Qing court bureaucracy caused serious losses in the Dagu dock, and the Beiyang Naval Division did not fill the ship guns for seven years, and the Dagu dock was also empty for seven years.

Now, Wang Chenhao will never allow this humiliating history to be repeated. Dagu Dockyard, which was merged into Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry, also regained its life after obtaining abundant funds.

Beiyang Ordnance Heavy Industry invested 2.4 million taels to renovate and upgrade the Dagu Dock. Docks No. 1 and No. 2 were expanded into 20,000-ton large docks, Docks No. 2 and No. 3 were 10,000-ton docks, the remaining four docks were 3,000-ton docks, and docks No. 9, No. 10, No. 11 and No. 12 were added, all of which were of 2,000 tons. All docks use steel dock doors and reinforced concrete structures, and more than 100 sets of equipment such as large gantry cranes, large machine tools, high-power motors, and large forging presses have been purchased, and the original foundry, carpentry room and boiler room have been upgraded.

Among them, the new docks No. 9, No. 10, No. 11 and No. 12, although they are of 2,000 tons, their use is the most important for the entire Dagu shipyard, and they are used to build submarines.

Wang Chenhao chose to build submarines in the Dagu dock, mainly because the workers in the Dagu dock had experience in building submarines, and although they were not proficient, they could at least be promoted to the work of building submarines quickly under the guidance of Holland and Lake.

Because the submarine is to be built, it is under military secrecy, so the most obvious difference between these four docks and other docks is that the docks are closed, and security cordons are set around them, so that no one can see the situation inside from the outside.

The reason for this arrangement is also Wang Chenhao's strategic deployment. Because Wang Chenhao knows that the British Navy is the most powerful naval power in the world, and the British Navy not only has the strongest naval warships in the world, but also has the most advanced shipyards in the world. The development of the navy depends on the country's comprehensive national strength and industrial base, and Wang Chenhao knows that the Qing Empire in front of him does not have this ability at all, so it will not be able to compete with the British navy for a long time. At that time, it took 58 years to complete the naval industrial system and realize the localization of naval equipment. Although Wang Chenhao is very confident in his ability, it will take ten years to achieve this goal.

For ten years, the Qing Empire may not still be friends with the British, and the two sides may even be enemies. What to do without the support of British naval equipment? Wang Chenhao had to think ahead, so he set his sights on the simplest, most economical and most practical submarine industry.

In this world, no one except Wang Chenhao knows how important submarines are to the coastal defense of small and weak countries. Wang Chenhao took precautions, and in order to prevent the powerful maritime threat he faced if he broke with Britain one day, he decided to use submarines to control the country, which was the most effective strategy.

Obviously, Wang Chenhao's worries are not unfounded. There is ethnic hatred between China and Britain from the two Opium Wars, a territorial dispute over the cession of Hong Kong, a pile of unequal treaties, and a dozen Chinese-style concessions. Of course, you can wait until after the two world wars to talk to the British about how to solve these problems, and then the British will definitely choose to compromise without war, but Wang Chenhao can't wait that long. Before that, we had to discuss these issues with Britain, the world hegemon, and it was clear that it would be difficult to solve them without war.

Wang Chenhao knew this very well, and it was only a matter of time before he broke with Britain. Therefore, preparations for the study and construction of submarines were also prepared in advance. Holland and Lake, as well as their technical team, will immediately carry out the relevant design and development work of the submarine. Priority is given to both funding and personnel. Of course, Holland already has a ready-made submarine design in his hands, but Wang Chenhao can't look at it for the time being, and wants him and Lake to design a new type of submarine, which can at least be used in actual combat.

In addition to providing them with translators, Ruan Zhongshu had to comply with any reform requirements put forward by the technical team, according to Wang Chenhao's request, and the Zhili Iron and Steel Company had to comply with any reform requirements put forward by the technical team, and did their best to meet their requirements.

At the same time, for this technical team, Wang Chenhao can be said to be very generous, not only arranging a comfortable working and living environment for them, but also giving them a salary 30% higher than that in the United States.

Wang Chenhao is so generous, of course, there is a purpose. He hopes to build Zhili Iron and Steel into the world's top steel company in a short period of time, because with the start of construction of the Beijing-Tianjin-Tang industrial base, the demand for steel will be huge. If the quality is not up to par, the impact on the overall situation will be incalculable. At the same time, Wang Chenhao also squeezed foreign iron and steel enterprises out of China in a short period of time and firmly controlled the domestic steel market. Steel companies want to make a profit, so they have to get steel into the international market as soon as possible. And it's all thanks to this technical team.

Of course, from the day this technical team entered the Zhili Iron and Steel Company, they changed their name and changed to the technical team of Zhili Iron and Steel Company.

In accordance with Wang Chenhao's request, Ruan Zhongshu and Cao Fuzhen organized a group of assistants composed of their own people to help these American technicians, in fact, to learn from them. Wang Chenhao hopes that his own people can understand the technology of foreigners as soon as possible, realize the localization of technology as soon as possible, and save the foreigners from being low.

The technical teams of Ford and Detroit Motor Company were placed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tang Industrial Park, and a separate plot of land was established to form the Beiyang Motor Manufacturing Company to produce and manufacture the cars designed by Ford and his technical team.

Ruan Zhongshu only made a detailed report to Wang Chenhao on the objects of focus, and more than a dozen other large and small technical teams only made briefings, and they were all properly placed. Because Wang Chenhao gave them good treatment, all the arrangements were more in line with their wishes, so these technical teams have been stationed in the relevant companies and departments of the Beijing-Tianjin-Tang Industrial Base and become the backbone.

"My lord, when are you going to visit the industrial base? We only design and plan according to the requirements of adults, and we don't know if it is in line with the wishes of adults. ”

Wang Chenhao thought for a while and said, "Let's talk about it when we finish dealing with the affairs of Russia!" ”

Ruan Zhongshu then said: "How about making an appointment with the Russian minister Kuman? ”

Wang Chenhao waved his hand and said, "No need to make an appointment!" At this time, the Russians are more anxious than us! I think as long as I go to the Governor's Palace, he will definitely appear. ”

Ruan Zhongshu said with a smile: "Following the adults is to boost your spirit!" In the past, the Russians were so imposing that no matter what happened, our officials had to go to the Russian legation to meet them. Now the adults have extinguished their prestige and given our people ambition! ”

Wang Chenhao smiled faintly, his original intention was to kill the prestige of the Russians and frustrate their spirit, so that it would be easy to negotiate.

"Later, when you go back, you will count the consumption figures of various materials and personnel for our war, and draw up a market price and cost price. In addition, the Russian prisoners and captured materials were also counted. The price of accommodation, food, medical care, clothing, etc., for the prisoners of war, was given to me. This stuff is useful when negotiating. ”

"Understood!" Ruan Zhongshu got up and said, "If you don't have anything else to order, you should hurry up and do it!" ”

Wang Chenhao nodded and said, "Go ahead!" ”

Nguyen Trung Shu then took his leave.

After Ruan Zhongshu left, Wang Chenhao sorted out his thoughts, then changed his official uniform, asked Li Bing to prepare the guards, and went straight to the Governor's Mansion of Zhili.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ in the office of the Governor's Mansion of Zhili, Li Hongzhang sat on the top seat, and Wang Chenhao and Yang Shixiang sat on the left and right.

Wang Chenhao had spoken to the two of them before, so Li Hongzhang and Yang Shixiang both knew Wang Chenhao's real intention of not going out at home these days.

Yang Shixiang smiled and said: "Lord Wang's trick is very effective, I think the Russian Minister Kuman has been really anxious these days." Think about how arrogant the Russians were at the beginning, entering the house of Zhongtang and the prime minister's yamen were like their own home, coming as they said they were, and leaving as soon as they said. Now Cuman, a Russian plenipotentiary minister to China, has eaten behind closed doors at the door of Lord Wang's house, which is really very gratifying. ”

Wang Chenhao said with a smile: "If you don't kill his prestige, I'm afraid it will be difficult to negotiate!" ”

Li Hongzhang nodded with satisfaction and said, "This trick is indeed good, it appeases the British and blows the arrogance of the Russians." It's just that, Chen Hao, you come out now, it looks like you're going to talk to the Russians! ”

Wang Chenhao looked at Li Hongzhang, he hadn't seen him for a year, and Li Hongzhang was even more old. Wang Chenhao knows that the current Li Hongzhang has no more years to live, and he has begun to be powerless in many things. Most of the current matters in the Zhili Governor's Mansion are handled by Yang Shixiang personally, and Li Hongzhang rarely asks in person.

"After the Battle of Mukden, Russia no longer had the capital to fight in the Far East. I will first look at the attitude and conditions of the Russians, and if they are willing to accept my conditions, it is naturally better to end the war as soon as possible. If not, then I can prepare for the next step. ”

Li Hongzhang asked, "Then Chenhao, what are your conditions?" ”

Wang Chenhao replied: "My condition is that both sides unconditionally end the war and restore the pre-war status quo ante. We will not lose money, cede land, or cede any conditions that undermine national sovereignty and national dignity. ”

Yang Shixiang said: "Lord Zhongtang and I still think that Lord Wang, you plan to knock the Russians on a bamboo pole?" Now it seems that our worries are unfounded! ”

Wang Chenhao smiled: "I don't want to knock the Russians hard!" But the current situation is not ripe, and it will not do us any good to push the Russians into a hurry! ”

Li Hongzhang nodded with a smile and said, "Chen Hao, you have thought it through, and the old man will rest assured." You can talk to the Russians about it! ”

Wang Chenhao nodded yes.

(To be continued)